But your point is poor, in that Riley didn't have a good short passing game. He was decent, but it wasn't anywhere near "good."

To be good, you have to get the ball there with enough time for the receiver to size up what's going on and make the defender have some problems. Then our guys can make them pay for single coverage. If they can watch the ball come to the outside for long enough, they can close, or worse get a pick six (note how many of those Riley threw)